Make Football Great Again

"Second Game Syndrome" Strikes Again! | England's Drab Ghana Draw, Tuchel's Tactics & Player Ratings

Same old England? Just when we thought the Three Lions were building serious momentum after defeating Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side turned in a ponderous, frustrating 0-0 draw against a resilient Ghana side in Boston. In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by the Mirror’s Chief Football Writer John Cross straight from the stadium to break down where it all went wrong. They dissect England's historical struggle with "second game syndrome," ask why the attack looked so incredibly sluggish against Ghana’s low block, and question some baffling tactical decisions—including the inverted fullback dilemma and leaving Ivan Toney on the bench. Plus, John delivers his definitive Match Player Ratings, highlighting a stellar defensive display from Mark Guéhi, an erratic night for Jordan Pickford, and a frustratingly quiet outing for captain Harry Kane. What’s inside this episode: * The Low Block Conundrum: Why England couldn't move the ball quickly enough to stretch the Ghanaian defense. * Tuchel’s Selection Critique: The weird dynamic of right-footed fullbacks on the left flank and the benching of Marcus Rashford. * The Striker Dilemma: Harry Kane’s three-touch frustration in the box and why Ivan Toney was custom-made for this exact game. * Panama Preview: What needs to drastically change on Saturday to secure top spot in the group. * 00:06 – Intro & Post-Match Reality Check Harry and John react to a very "drab" 0-0 draw against Ghana and the immediate comedown from the opening-day joy against Croatia. * 00:36 – The Curse of "Second Game Syndrome" A deep dive into England's historical trend of slipping up in their second group games (2020, 2022, 2024) and why 2018 was the last time they avoided the trap. * 02:30 – How to Break a Low Block John explains why blaming a defensive opposition is a cop-out, criticizing England's ponderous, slow, and labored passing. * 05:14 – Weather Excuses & "Sunday League" Mentalities Debunking the heat myth in a chilly Boston and why England's sluggish opening five minutes set a complacent tone. * 07:06 – The Winger & Rashford Mystery Why was Anthony Gordon so ineffective, and why did Thomas Tuchel leave it so late to bring Marcus Rashford into the mix? * 07:45 – Official Player Ratings: The Starting XI John passes judgment on the team, detailing Pickford's nerve-wracking moments, Guéhi’s Man of the Match performance, and Kane's 5/10 display. * 10:00 – The Inverted Fullback Debate A tactical breakdown of Jed Spence and the awkward positioning of right-footed players dominating the left flank. * 12:18 – Substitutes & The Benched Strikers Rating the impact of Saka, O’Reilly, and Rogers, and calling out the "utterly bizarre" decision to leave Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins on the bench. * 15:01 – Are England Genuine Contenders? A sobering look at whether England belongs in the top tier of tournament favorites or the "second tier." * 15:57 – Looking Ahead to Panama What England must prioritize on Saturday to fix their rhythm, secure the group, and trigger a much-needed team reaction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Will Tuchel risk Rice? Partey handshake dilemma & Rashford v Gordon | England v Ghana Preview

England are flying high after an emphatic 4-2 opening-day victory over Croatia, but can Thomas Tuchel keep the momentum going? In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by The Mirror's Chief Football Writer, John Cross, fresh out of Tuchel's pre-match press conference. John gives us the inside track on the mood in the camp ahead of Tuesday’s crucial World Cup clash against Ghana. A win guarantees England top spot in the group—but history shows the second game is always a banana skin. We dive deep into Declan Rice’s ongoing injury management after playing an obscene 63 games this season, the tactical selection dilemmas on the left wing between Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon, and why John Stones remains indispensable to Tuchel's blueprint. Plus, we address the highly uncomfortable Thomas Partey handshake controversy and break down how England plan to stop Ghana’s dangerous superstar, Antoine Semenyo. Will England secure back-to-back World Cup opening wins for only the fourth time in history? Let us know your score predictions in the comments below! 👇 ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Massachusetts: Inside the England Camp 00:32 – Croatia Aftermath: Has the World Cup Tension Lifted? 02:51 – The Complacency Trap: Avoiding Past Tournament Slumps 05:19 – A Rare Record: Can England Win Their First Two Games? 06:44 – Declan Rice Injury Alarm: The Lower Back & Hamstring Issue 08:37 – 63 Games and Counting: Player Burnout & Squad Rotation 10:15 – Tuchel’s "Reverse Beret" on World Cup Hydration Breaks 11:51 – The Defensive Dilemma: Why Marc Guéhi is Being Left Out 13:50 – Rashford vs. Gordon: Who Wins the Left-Wing Battle? 15:45 – Harry Kane Chasing Messi, Mbappé, and the Ballon d'Or 17:38 – The Thomas Partey Controversy & The Pre-Match Handshake 20:32 – Stopping Antoine Semenyo: The Familiarity Advantage 21:54 – John Cross's Official Predicted England XI vs. Ghana Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Bellingham ignites second half storm as England seal statement win | England 4-2 Croatia

Harry Brent is joined by John Cross to react to England's 4-2 win against Croatia. The World Cup opener for the Three Lions featured the "sensational" Jude Bellingham, an "exquisite" finish from Marcus Rashford, "off the scale brilliant" Harry Kane, as well as a defensive unit that did not click. Can Harry Kane carry on breaking records? Will we expect more "white knuckle rollercoaster performances" from Thomas Tuchel's side? And should we be worried about Jordan Pickford between the sticks for England? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

England vs Croatia Preview: Tuchel's World Cup Gamble, Journalist Leaks & Maguire FaceTime Drama

Straight from Thomas Tuchel's pre-match press conference from the spectacular AT&T Stadium in Texas, The Mirror’s Chief Football Writer John Cross joins host Harry Brann to preview England’s massive World Cup opening clash against Croatia. In this episode, John and Harry break down the massive bombshell out of the England camp: Tino Livramento’s tournament-ending injury and Thomas Tuchel's surprise decision to call up Trevoh Chalobah straight from his American vacation. They dive into the internet-breaking FaceTime drama surrounding Harry Maguire’s exclusion, debate the tactical headache on the right wing between Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, and share some wild behind-the-scenes stories from the team hotel—including how the squad handled a midnight Texas tornado warning. Plus, John gives his honest verdict on where England ranks against heavyweights like France and Spain, and defends the controversial role of football journalists in leaking team lineups ahead of matchday. Timestamps * 01:33 – The Livramento Bombshell & Chalobah Call-Up: Breaking down the injury gamble that backfired, why Trevoh Chalobah was called up from his holiday, and the looming Trent Alexander-Arnold question. * 03:56 – The Maguire FaceTime Drama: A look at the viral social media fallout from Harry Maguire being dropped via video call and whether the defender’s reaction was justified. * 05:54 – Predicting England's Starting XI: John reveals his predicted lineup, analyzing the 50/50 toss-up between Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon’s defensive work rate, and the centre-back pairing. * 08:19 – Inside the Camp: Tornadoes & "Robberies": John laughs off reported camp security issues and recounts the chaos of mid-tournament Texas tornado sirens sending hotel guests into underground garages. * 10:30 – Tournament Favorites & Where England Ranks: First-week highlights from the US-hosted tournament and why England sits firmly in the "second tier" behind France, Spain, and Argentina. * 13:34 – The Great Lineup Leak Debate: John addresses the criticism aimed at journalists who leak team sheets early and explains why the public always craves inside information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Bellingham Shines Through the Rain and Tuchel's Selection Dilemmas | England 3-0 Costa Rica

England completed their pre-World Cup run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando—but it wasn’t without a bit of classic Florida weather chaos! In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by the Mirror’s Chief Football Writer, John Cross, straight from the humid grounds of Florida. From torrential rain delays and bizarre pitch-watering spectacles to tactical masterclasses on the field, we break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 World Cup. In today's episide: • The Match: Goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins seal the win. • The Standouts: Why Jude Bellingham completely owned the midfield and staked his claim for the No. 10 shirt against Croatia. • The Miss: Noni Madueke’s open-goal blunder that he won't want to watch again. • Injury Update: The latest on Bukayo Saka’s Achilles tendonitis and how Thomas Tuchel plans to rotate the squad. • Transfer Gossip: Is Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson really worth a £100M+ British transfer record? Man City and Man Utd think he might be. • Player Ratings: Full starting XI breakdown, including why Harry Kane needs to stop playing like an NFL quarterback. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - England 3-0 Costa Rica: Match Overview 00:32 - Torrential Rain & American Lightning Rules 03:28 - Performance Review: Pace, Tactics & Tough Tackles 05:01 - Man of the Match: Jude Bellingham Locks Down the No. 10 06:00 - Noni Madueke's Performance & That Infamous Miss 07:49 - Bukayo Saka Injury Update & Squad Rotation Under Tuchel 09:25 - Transfer Talk: £100M Elliot Anderson to Man City or Man Utd? 11:41 - England Player Ratings: Why Kane is Dropping Too Deep 14:45 - Predicted Starting XI vs Croatia & Selection Dilemmas 16:35 - Tuchel’s USA Training Camp & Moving to Kansas City 17:53 - 2026 World Cup Kicks Off Today! With the World Cup officially kicking off with Mexico vs. South Africa, make sure you're fully clued up. Check out our 48-Nation Scouting Report available right now on the channel, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts! Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]